The always-reliable Karl Bode over at DSL Reports is quoting a tipster who is putting the official Xohm Baltimore launch on Oct. 6, which doesn’t quite meet Barry West’s September deadline but maybe that’s just a quibble.
Given all the optimism from the Sprint side of things, we had been expecting to hear some official news soon, if not this week than probably early next since it’s almost impossible to keep these things under wraps forever. More news, including official announcements, as we hear ‘em.
Xohm is not doing anything in some markets that it promised. Like south Florida! I thought SPRINT Clearwire was coming? Someone said Towerstream was here, but I have not seen anyone else’s licensed WiMAX in the air but SLING.That said though, With the FCC allocating the 3.65GHz – 3.7GHz to WiMAX, I have noticed that only a few players are actually taking advantage of the spectrum, deploying gear, and putting in WiMAX footprint. I mean, there are over 200 FCC nationally licensed organizations! SLING Broadband in south Florida is doing something about it. Working with Airspan, Proxim, and looking at Alvarion and RedLine equipment as well. These guys are leaving no stone left unturned man. Here is there url http://www.slingbroadband.com
Why has no one mentioned that Towerstream also spent millions in buying the FSS grandfathered licenses in Florida and are working to do so in the NE.
With this “Earth Station” license they claim a monopoly in that market buy refusal of 3.65 GHz spectrum by other broadband providers. The FSS earth station license gives the earth station the ability to grant or refuse broadband providers use of that air space for 150 km around. They (Towerstream) claim it will interfere with their operations in that market. Yeah! Hello! ?? Anybody else see the FCC failing and falling on its face because of loosely written regulations? How the heck can that be legal?
Concerned Consultant
PS: We already got a black eye from Metro-Fi and Earthlink screwing the pooch for Muni Wi-Fi, and now we are going to let Towerstream and Clearwire define the life or death of “AMERICAN WiMAX”?????